Sandhill crane video and snow in the mountains

Recently I drove to Denver. There was fresh snow on the mountains surrounding Salida. Beautiful.  These
14,000 foot mountains are in Chaffee county.  When the snow eventually melts, it will bring prime rafting on the Arkansas River this summer.

 

In March, there is the migration of the Sandhill cranes in the San Luis Valley.  We went in 2011 to see them.  It was amazing.  Here is a short video.  Remember, I'm an amature movie maker.

Remodeled bathroom at the Circle R Motel

Yesterday we went to to lunch at the Country Bounty restaurant.  http://www.thecountrybounty.com/  I love the Country Bounty mostly because they make their own fabulous desserts.  And, they also have a great chef.  I had crepes. 

Here is a quilt I'm working on. 

Also, we have redone one of the bathrooms at the motel and here are before and after photos of the sink and then a finished photo of the shower.

 

 

 

 

Check out the Circle R Motel's web site at:  http://salidacoloradomotel.com/

Winterwonderland in southern Colorado

Monarch ski area http://skimonarch.com/ has new snow.  It's about 13 inches in the last two days.  That means that besides skiing and snowboard, there will be new snow for snowmobiling http://www.snowmobilemonarch.com/ and cross country skiing.

If you are looking for something different to do, why not try out dog sledding? Here is a link to their web site.   http://monarchdogsledrides.com. 



Then, be sure to stay at the Circle R Motel while up in the high country doing your thing.  http://salidacoloradomotel.com/  We are just one mile from downtown Salida where you will find lots of things to do and plenty of restaurants.

We have parking in front of your motel room so you don't have to put all your belongings on one of those carts and wheel it into the hotel lobby, take the elevator, get out and wheel your things down the hallway then unload them in the room and then take that cart back down to the lobby.  Just step out your motel room and unload your vehicle, which is parked five feet away! 

While everyone is enjoying this winter wonderland, I'm doing some quilting.   Here are a few photos of what I'm working on.

Until next time....

Chaffee shuttle and Salida Hot Springs Pool tour

Went on a tour of the aquatics center and hot springs pool. There is a lap pool which is kept in the upper 80 degrees and a leisure pool kept in the upper 90 degrees. The photo of the outside of the center here shows the free Chaffee shuttle which is available M-Sat until 5pm for anyone who needs a ride around town.

These are the soaking pools at the aquatics center. You can rent them for an hour. The water is from the hot springs in Poncha Springs and is 104 degrees.

Check out the aquatics center and hot springs pool on their web site at: http://salidarec.com/public-pool/

Welcoming in new year

Welcome 2013.  It's still rather dry here in Chaffee county.  Monarch ski area http://skimonarch.com/  seems to have enough snow for the snowboarders and the skiers however.  My daughter tells me that the additions at the ski area really help at lunch time. 

Here in Salida, we have had some snow, but for some reason I can't figure out how to download the photos today.  Anyway, fortunately the weather has warmed a little and its no longer 10 below zero at night.

Tuesday, I am going on a tour of the Salida Hot Springs pool   http://salidarec.com/public-pool/  and the Steamplant Event Center http://www.salidasteamplant.com/ with other lodging facilities in town.  Then I can let you all know first hand what these places have to offer you as a tourist. 

end of 2012

Today is December 23.  Sunday.  Where has the year gone? 

We have some snow on the ground outside and it looks like it is snowing at Monarch.  Great day for snowboarding or skiing.   Winter came late this year, but it seems to be here now.

There is really not much to talk about.  Later today my daughter will come home and we are going to make some gingerbread cookies.  I told my mom I would make her gingerbread cookies if she made me some home-made toffee and she agreed. 

As a child, our family would drive 1.5 days from California to Colorado to see the grandparents.  We passed through all the small towns decorated with Christmas lights.  My grandparents were so happy to see us.  My mom's mother and I would bake gingerbread cookies during the week.   We drove up to their cabin and cut down a Christmas tree.  We did it every year for over 15 years. 

Merry Christmas everyone.....

Thanksgiving in Salida

It's been a week since Thanksgiving and I wanted to post our photos before now, but I've been busy with this and that.  My daughter came for Thanksgiving but now that she is working, she can't stay as long.   At least she still lives in Colorado so that's good!!

Here is a photo of the dining room table.  Set for three.  After dinner Kendall and Lee drove up to the mountains and cut down our Christmas tree.  I think they were gone for just an hour or less.  The sun was shining and since we have no snow, it was much easier than in years past.

Here is the tree decorated and up.   It's a little too tall so the Angel can't fit up there! 

A lot of the ornaments are home-made.  I painted some when I was addicted to tole painting years ago.  Last year a man here in town made us several glass ornaments. 

 

This is a moose though its kind of hard to tell in this photo.

  

 

Lee wanted a dragon.

 

 

My mom made this angel when she was in a doll club many years ago.   So that's an heirloom.



Okay, I thought I could move the photo above, but maybe I can't.  Still learning the process.  Anyway, that's my Santa I made a few years ago of felt.  His one eye is a tiny bit bigger than the other.  Too many cookies!! 

That's it for now!

Pam